Aldi ‘n’ Proud

IMG_5370.JPG

***Let me just start by saying that this is not a sponsored post and that I have not been remunerated in any way for waxing Aldi lyrical. I really am writing about our favourite supermarket of my own free will. Talking about supermarkets has become one of my favourite topics. This is my life now and I’m fine with that (mostly)***

We have been Aldi ‘n’ Proud in our house for about a year now. I’ll admit I was a hesitant adopter but my husband pushed for a change after growing tired of my habit of ‘browsing’ – apparently it’s expensive and results in the acquisition of random and unnecessary products. I feel it’s always worth looking into alternative ways to mash potato, but lets not start that debate here.

With Aldi there are things you need to get used to, it’s not all pretty and full of olives, stuff doesn’t look quite so appealing on pallet based displays and the checkout process can feel a bit violent at times. Maybe we’ve become somewhat institutionalised though because now, I sort of love all of those things.

Anyway in the hope that there might be other people out there to convert, or ones that are already converted and want to share some product tips – here are a few of my own recommendations, sound of music style…

My Favourite *Aldi* Things

Cheap free range chicken and whole nut Choceur
Gold medal nappies and the aisle of liqueur
The fact that no one, can call out their fake Pimms (which is incidentally £5.99 a litre!)
These are a few of my favourite things

Counterfeit hula hoops and random sports equipment
Practically free bananas and jaffa cake equivalent
Drowning my sorrows in award winning gin
These are a few of my favourite things

A complete lack of choice means getting home quickly
Shopping at Saino’s now makes us feel sickly
When it’s a third cheaper how can you not win (#fact – we have done a precise comparison!)
These are a few of my favourite things

When the kids swear
When the sky box loses signal
When the cat sh*ts on the grass
I simply remember my favourite things
And then I don’t feel *quite* so middle class

So yep mainly alcohol, crisps and chocolate. Yum.

I’d love to hear any more recommendations from fellow Aldi lovers? Hit me up.

facebook-like-me-button1

 

**************

P.S. I have a new book OUT NOW! You can nab it on Amazon here or in your lovely local bookshop :)

instapost

49 thoughts on “Aldi ‘n’ Proud

  1. mylittledreamworld1

    We are aldi shoppers too :)
    I love buying the cheaper fruit / veg and meat the most. And nappies :)
    I also love that there’s not too much choice.
    And I have started loving the superfast checkout – in my head I’m trying to get it all into the trolley as quick as possible, not building up items on the ‘packing bit.’ If I do, I win :) don’t even know if my little game makes sense lol.
    And I like seeing the faces of those people who don’t know the checkout rules as they haven’t been before – knowing them feels like having a membership there :)
    I’ll stop now or my comment will get far too long :) xx

    Reply
  2. Mark

    My name’s Mark and I’m an Aldiolic. Of the worst kind.

    I’m the one who scoffs at the newcomers trying to pack their bags. At the till!?
    And I still hover over my other half’s every bite, excitedly waiting to say “guess how much?”

    Fab post x

    Reply
  3. Helen

    Love it! I am about to try out the nappies (I’ll be honest I am a bit of a sceptic but you are not the first person to recommend). The randomness of the middle aisles really makes me smile, face cream next to builders equipment next to baby socks. Brilliant.

    Reply
  4. Dean of Little Steps

    Oh haven’t tried Aldi yet. We’ve used Lidl a lot! And will most probably shop there again. It gives me so much pleasure to guess how much our bill would be at the end of the shop and say to each other “You wouldn’t get that at ______ fill in the blanks with other supermarkets! I heart Lidl. Must try Aldi too!

    Reply
  5. Two beans and a bump

    That chocolate is sooo good. I’d shop at Aldi just for that!

    I think its great for fruit and veg and store cupboard bits. The violent checkout process made me laugh. It is pretty terrifying. I get quite competitive about the whole thing. Haha :)

    Reply
  6. Hannah

    Ok so presumably you are onto Aldi’s award winning Toro Loco red wine less than £3.50p?? Also early December (& other random times of the year) keep your eyes peeled for the Toro Loco Reserva which is £4 and uh-MAZING. So much so that we now have a Facebook group (Toro Loco M21 branch- look us up) where we post nonsense about how much we love it.

    Also the Rioja with the gold mesh is lovely.

    Finally their day & night face creams always win competitions & the sun lotion is great and so cheap.

    Reply
    1. Katie Post author

      Oh yes we are always well stocked up with Toro Loco :)) not tried the reserva though so thanks for the tip and i am mightily impressed by your facebook group! Uber fans :)

      Reply
  7. Katy Hill

    LOVE IT! I’m an online grocery shopper BUT funnily enough was having this exact Aldi conversation with some mums at school today! They were tipping me off on the good wines there! All about the priorities baby! ;-) x

    Reply
    1. Katie Post author

      Honestly Katy even if you go for the booze alone its well worth it, dead cheap for award winning wine and spirits :)) x

      Reply
  8. Katie

    I love a bit of Aldi. Their chocolate spread is really nice, and so is their pesto. Ooh and their mini Magnums- just as good as the real thing and so much cheaper! xxx

    Reply
  9. wendy

    Eeee, I LOVE Aldi, there’s no converting needed here! :-) I recommend the smoked cheese section. YUM. Not to mention the Groovy chocolate biscuit bars (used to be called Disco) for any chocolate fix.

    Reply
  10. mel @mydaysni

    I hate shopping altogether, but I do appreciate sometimes the cheaper item can be better value and/or taste nicer. The problem is it has taken me years to figure what is good and cheap in the main supermarkets, and I don’t think I have the energy or the money to start afresh in another shop. People do keep telling me to try though…

    Reply
  11. Rachael

    My girls love their choc buttons and cornettos. Love their meats, fruits and veg. My youngest gets really excited when Ive been shopping as it means its sausage and mash day and every time will say ” ooh mum I do love these aldi sausages ” (cumberland)

    Reply
    1. Katie Post author

      Thanks will have to try the sausages! Don’t think we’ve tried the cornetto’s either – getting some ace tips here :)

      Reply
  12. Claire Woodhouse

    -I take an Ikea trolley bag, you know, the big blue ones and basically play a game of “beat the Cashier” every time.
    -Their Gin is awesome!
    I defaulted this week and visited a rival supermarket because my bank account is empty and Aldi don’t take credit cards and my shopping took twice as long and cost almost double :(

    Reply
    1. Katie Post author

      We do the ikea bags too! Excellent strategy :)
      Sometimes we are forced to shop elsewhere for some reason and it takes days to get over! :( x

      Reply
  13. Geraldine Steward

    I often think about trying Aldi, but my nearest store is nearly five miles away!!!! And with a 16mth in tow, I don’t really fancy a day trip to do the food shop

    Reply
  14. Caroline thorpe

    Good frozen fish – especially Tuna. Agree about the mini magnums and the plain chocolate with whole hazelnuts.
    Love their cycling stuff – playing snap with other cyclists in the same jacket.

    Reply
  15. Naomi Williams

    I actually live almost next door to an aldi.. I was a sceptic for a long time but now, well, I rarely venture anywhere else. I love the fact that it sells all the basics at a fraction of the price of other supermarkets, their nappies are second to none in my opinion and there aren’t too many pretty,fancy things to entice me into spending more money. The checkouts are hilarious, and I do find myself scowling a little at the people who insist on trying to pack bags at the checkout instead of at the weird catwalk type setup at the back… I just love it. Fruit and veg, meats, awesome. Oh, and the fresh flowers! My kitchen table is currently adorned with two bunches of gladiolis (yes,two.. £1.60 a bunch!!) can’t praise the place enough!

    Reply
    1. Katie Post author

      Wow you sound like you love it almost as much as us! I am very jealous that you have Aldi as a neighbour though ;)

      Reply
  16. Lizzy

    Their diet cola. I love diet coke and Pepsi, because of barley I cannot drink any other supermarket equivalent. I don’t need to at a 1/4 nearly of the price I like it just as much as coca cola version.
    Can’t speak for the sugary version though.
    As for chocolate the choceur dark with hazelnuts is absolutely awesome!
    Daughter loves their yoghurt tubes and pouches as much as any other!

    Reply
    1. Katie Post author

      I am all over Choceur! We love it and the dark chocolate which is called something else is really lovely too. Have never tried the coke but will give it a bash, thanks x

      Reply
    1. Amazababe

      Hi, if you subscribe to Martin Lewis’ money saving expert newsletter, it tells you when one of the newspapers do Aldi vouchers (I think it’s the mirror?).
      Basically, once every 6 weeks or so you can buy the paper, and you get some random item discount vouchers and £5 off when you spend £40. :)

      Reply
  17. Sarah

    Cheap Gin?
    Why has no one told me about this before?
    I have battled London Road on only 2 occasions in the past to get to Aldi but always to load up on the pretend Pimms for parties (decanted in to actual Pimms bottles before presenting to guests of course).
    But cheap Gin? Award winning?
    Why have you been keeping this a secret?
    I’m off to load up. Wish me luck. It’s a jungle out there…

    Reply
  18. Jude

    Ooo I’m excited now. I’m from Berkhamsted – the town that made Daily Mail headlines for being ‘Too Posh for Lidl’. The residents tried – and failed – to block planning for a Lidl. Yay! Bring on the continental chocolate and random aisle. Sounds like heaven. x

    Reply
  19. Vickie @29yearoldmama

    Ha! Love a bit of Aldi’s. I used to be a closet shopper but scream and shout about it now. I am such a pro I just line up I blottle of milk and wine and say 6 of each please {this totes saves time}. Their Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is a steal at less than £6.00 a bottle- hello?! Why wouldn’t you stock up there?!

    Reply
  20. Jess @ Along Came Cherry

    We live a bit far from an Aldi to shop there regularly but whenever I do go, I am always surprised at how freaking cheap it is! I will never forget the £1.99 bottle of maple syrup I found, although it was never there again when I went back. I live near a Lidl so shop in there a lot but it’s not as good as Aldi. I love the song too! x

    Reply
  21. Alison Cairns

    Aldi is even better than Lidl. I’m a total convert. Their fruit and veg is so much fresher (and obviously cheaper) than any of the main supermarkets. Love their meats and cold meats – and the rhubarb yoghurt is my favourite thing! They haven’t quite cracked the cereal though, or the instant coffee, but their ground is fine.

    Reply
  22. becky

    Erm is it ok that I sang you little ditty!! Also I love Aldi we have been once BUT its 25 miles from home we just went because we were that way. So although it is cheaper and all that by the time we have paid the ridonculous price of petrol its actually not worth it anymore! (which actually is 5p per litre cheaper in said town with Aldi…but again not worth it if we have to drive 15 miles to get there!) I dream of Aldi opening up here!!

    Reply
  23. Jess Paterson

    Our long-awaited Aldi opened a few weeks ago – we watched it being built every day and my husband practically had a countdown chart such is my “browsing” habit. I love it! I think the Jaffas are a touch on the dry side but I have never looked at them the same since they were recommended as perfect labour fuel by our NCT teacher. Great tip on the Pimms – I’m off! Xxx

    Reply
  24. Kat

    Different angle here. I’ve grown up with Lidl & Aldi, being German and all. Now, watch me when I pack at the till! Yes, I can pack my bags at the till. Being German (or sad) I place products on the belt in order of bag placement. Yep, I know, total pro, me.
    One thing though, Aldi has not enough German treats for me so was a little bit disappointed when I visited a UK Aldi for the first time the other day. On the other hand, that is probably a good thing and will stop me pigging out on childhood goodies :)

    Reply
  25. Kerrie McGiveron

    We are proper Aldi converts, although we do frequent Asda and Tesco on occasion for a bit of variety. Can’t you tell that we too talk about supermarkets and stuff like that! We get our nappies from Aldi, so obviously that means that we pretty much live there and have done for the past three years. You know what’s lovely from there – the chorizo ring they do – and their steaks are ace and a bargain too. Also, I need to tell you this, we were in the Aldi in Liverpool the other week, and a man just walked in and put about 25 steaks into a Matalan carrier bag, and walked out. I was just stood their in disbelief and wondered why I have been paying all these years… Love you rhymes Gin, ace as always xxx

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *